Home » Website Builders » Comparisons » Wix Alternatives: The 4 Best Options To Try in 2026 Wix Alternatives: The 4 Best Options To Try in 2026 We may receive a commission from our partners if you click on a link and purchase a product or service on their website. Learn more Written by Holly Choules Researched by Natasha Willett Updated on February 26, 2026 Advertisement We may receive a commission from our partners if you click a link and purchase a product or service. This does not impact our ratings, which are determined by years of hands-on testing and expert research. FEATURED PROVIDER Hostinger 4.2 We may receive a commission from our partners if you click a link and purchase a product or service. This does not impact our ratings, which are determined by years of hands-on testing and expert research. Visit Hostinger Starting from $12.99$1.99/mo + 3 months free AI tools included for content generation and logo creation Great for beginners Powerful editor and design options Cheapest plans For service-based sites Squarespace 4.5 We may receive a commission from our partners if you click a link and purchase a product or service. This does not impact our ratings, which are determined by years of hands-on testing and expert research. Visit Squarespace Get 10% off your plan at checkout with the code below WBE10 Copy Website Builder Expert test winner for ease of use Intuitive drag-and-drop editor included Wide array of templates available No free plan For online stores Shopify 4.2 We may receive a commission from our partners if you click a link and purchase a product or service. This does not impact our ratings, which are determined by years of hands-on testing and expert research. Visit Shopify Top rated for ecommerce Strong inventory management tools included, making it perfect for large inventories Includes key security measures for fraud protection Only 12 templates Best for a fast set-up GoDaddy 4.1 We may receive a commission from our partners if you click a link and purchase a product or service. This does not impact our ratings, which are determined by years of hands-on testing and expert research. Visit GoDaddy Great value for money The AI generator can build a website in in under 30 seconds 24/7 customer support included Generic designs Our methodology We’ve rigorously tested every website builder reviewed on our site, so we can fairly recommend the best alternatives to our top builder, Wix. Comments: 1 On this page Side-by-Side Comparison 1. Squarespace: For Services 2. Hostinger: For Cheap Start Prices 3. Shopify: For Scaling Stores 4. GoDaddy: For Easy Site Setup How To Choose How We Test Summary FAQs Top 3 Squarespace Shopify Hostinger We compared website builders and found the best Wix alternatives in 2026: Squarespace (best for services), Hostinger (best for low start prices), and Shopify (best for scaling ecommerce).While Wix is a top-rated builder, these alternatives excel in specific areas like design, ease of use, or ecommerce functionality. Key Takeaways 🔍 Squarespace excels because of its intuitive editor and scheduling toolsHostinger is the most affordable option, starting at $1.99 per month Shopify has the best sales tools that are made to handle large inventoriesGoDaddy is an effective choice if you’re on a time crunch – its AI builder can create a website in under 30 secondsTo choose a Wix alternative, consider your budget, the features needed, and how easy it is to switch from Wix 📢 I updated this article on 02/26/26—this is what’s different I’ve updated this Wix Alternatives article to ensure that it contains the most relevant, up-to-date information to help you choose a suitable website builder. I’ve:Added additional information on how Wix’s pricing compares to its competitors to help you make budgeting decisionsEnsured that the data provided is accurate and reflects the website builder landscape in 2026Answered more common user questions regarding Wix alternatives 🧪 How we tested Wix alternatives for this article Spanning over 300 hours of data collection, our in-house research team assessed the 12 biggest website builders on the market to determine the best Wix alternatives.To analyze each option in depth, we examined 7 key categories that our readers care about the most, such as pricing, website features, and design options. This ensures that the builders featured are most suitable for your needs. Wix Alternatives: Side-by-Side Comparison Refer to the table below for a quick comparison between each alternative: Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Best Wix Alternative Squarespace Hostinger Shopify GoDaddy Overall Rating 4.5 Overall Rating 4.2 Overall Rating 4.2 Overall Rating 4.1 Today's best price $16$14.40 with code “WBE10” Today's best price 85% off in the current Sale:$12.99$1.99/month + 3 months for free Today's best price $29$1/mo for 3 months Today's best price $9.99 Free plan or free trial 14-day free trial Free plan or free trial 7-day free trial Free plan or free trial 3-day free trial Free plan or free trial Free plan How Does Wix’s Pricing Compare to Its Alternatives?You can compare Wix’s pricing with alternative options using the table below: Free plan or trial Starting price (billed annually) Renewal price? Cheapest ecommerce plan Wix Free plan $17 per month Start price renews at the standard rate $23.99 per month Squarespace 14-day free trial $16 per month Start price renews at the standard rate $16 per month Hostinger 7-day free trial $1.99 per month Start price renews at $10.99 per month $2.99 per month Shopify 3-day free trial $29 per month Start price renews at the standard rate $29 per month GoDaddy Free plan $9.99 per month Start price renews at $16.99 per month $20.99 per month Hostinger and GoDaddy are the two cheapest Wix alternatives, despite their price increases at renewal.Squarespace’s pricing is most like Wix’s, though Squarespace is slightly cheaper. A key difference is that you can start selling on Squarespace’s cheapest plan.Shopify remains the most expensive Wix alternative on this list with plans starting from $29 per month. However, this price is justifiable if you own a scaling store and need the best ecommerce tools on the market. Are There Any Free Wix Alternatives? GoDaddy is the only Wix alternative on this list with a free-forever plan, offering access to its AI builder, SEO, editor, social media tools, and email marketing. It’s a great way to get familiar with the interface.Besides Wix and GoDaddy, some of the best free website builders include Pagecloud (best for single page websites) and Square Online (best for selling online for free). However, these options come with significant drawbacks, such as platform-branded website ads and the inability to connect a custom domain.I suggest upgrading as soon as you’re ready for a more professional online presence. 1. Squarespace: For Service-Based Businesses Overall rating: 4.5/5 (excellent)Squarespace pricing: From $16 per month. Save 10% on your plan with code “WBE10” at checkoutSquarespace reviewSquarespace is the best Wix alternative for service-based businesses due to its popular Acuity Scheduling tool. It’s also an excellent platform for beginners, offering an AI builder, Squarespace Blueprint, and a simple drag-and-drop editor.Squarespace’s Acuity Scheduling tool costs an additional $16 per month (billed annually), enabling you to take client bookings and showcase different types of appointments on your website, like consultations or classes. 🚨 One thing I noticed during testing… Squarespace’s Acuity Scheduling tool impressed me. It’s well integrated into the platform and I could tailor my scheduling page to complement my website’s design. Before your site goes live, I recommend setting your availability first. This way, potential customers will know when you’re available, preventing any bookings from trickling down into your personal time! Holly Choules Writer ✔️ What Squarespace Does WellPowerful scheduling tool: Acuity Scheduling. Great for accepting appointments from your website.Best looking website designs for a professional online presence.Easiest editor to use thanks to its intuitive drag-and-drop interface.✖️ Where Squarespace Could ImproveEcommerce features aren’t as advanced as Wix’s or Shopify’s. Squarespace is better for selling a few products at a time, not for scaling businesses.Website speeds need improvement. Squarespace sites had the slowest load times on desktop and mobile in our hands-on testing.Squarespace has fewer extensions than Wix (i.e. 40+ extensions vs 8,000+ extensions).Want to set up with Acuity Scheduling? Our video below will show you how: Play How Much Does Squarespace Cost?$16 and $99 per month (billed annually)14-day free trial No free plan10% off with the code “WBE10” at checkoutSquarespace has four plans priced between $16 and $99 per month (billed annually). They’re generally cheaper than Wix’s plans, since there’s less of a steep price increase between the cheapest and the more expensive options.💰 Learn more about its plans and pricing here: Squarespace pricing 🤔 Useful to know! Though Squarespace’s plans are cheaper than Wix’s, Wix’s plans are great value for money due to the large number of features offered—even on the cheapest plan. Compare the features on Wix and Squarespace’s plans first before you make your decision. Does your plan have the tools you need?Squarespace’s Key DifferencesThese are the key differences between Wix and Squarespace:Is Squarespace Easier To Use Than Wix?In testing, I found that Squarespace’s AI website builder tool was the easiest to use overall, which is especially helpful if you want to set up fast.With Wix, I felt like I was being bombarded with questions before receiving my AI-generated design, while Squarespace walked me through a simple, five-step process. I could choose:My website’s tone of voiceMy homepage’s contentsThe exact pages I neededSpecific colors and fonts for the designSquarespace Blueprint’s finished product was pleasing to the eye, though I would have liked the imagery to be a bit more tailored to my business. Source: Website Builder ExpertAre Squarespace’s Templates Better Than Wix’s?Yes, though Wix has a higher volume of templates, Squarespace’s professional templates are the best I’ve seen design-wise.When previewing templates, I could see how my site might look in mobile view too, ensuring that the site experience is positive for mobile users. Source: Website Builder ExpertSquarespace’s 190+ templates scored highly in our hands-on testing, with sophisticated designs spanning entertainment, restaurants, travel, and other popular industries. These sleek, curated templates will help your website stand out online and impress your target audience. 2. Hostinger: For the Cheapest Starting Prices Overall rating: 4.2/5 (very good)Hostinger pricing: From $1.99 per month. Save 10% with code “WBE” at checkoutHostinger reviewIf sticking to a budget is your key concern, Hostinger is the best Wix alternative for your needs. Its two website builder plans cost $1.99 or $2.99 per month (for a 48-month term), which is superb if you need to set up a professional website for less.And if you find your Wix website too slow, sites built with Hostinger had the fastest loading speeds in our testing!✔️ What Hostinger Does WellCheapest pricing plans starting from only $1.99 per month (48-month term).Fastest site load times. Hostinger’s average performance scores beat Wix’s on desktop and mobile during hands-on testing.Fantastic AI tool suite to boost efficiency, helping you generate a website design, email marketing, and additional content.✖️ Where Hostinger Could ImproveNot as scalable as Wix, with only two plans available and 50GB space on its most expensive plan.Less design options than Wix and more simplistic templates.Limited website functionality, especially since it doesn’t have an app market.How Much Does Hostinger Cost?$1.99 or $2.99 per month (48-month subscription)7-day free trial (3 months free)No free plan10% off with code “WBE” at checkoutOn a 48-month subscription, Hostinger’s plans cost between $1.99 to $2.99 per month and are great value for money. They’re the cheapest introductory offers on the market, making Hostinger ideal if high website costs are a key concern.💰 Learn more about its plans and pricing here: Hostinger pricing 🚨 Hostinger's billing cycles will impact your total costs For the cheapest introductory pricing, you’ll need to commit to a 12, 24, or 48-month billing cycle. If you’re paying for a one-month billing cycle, the cost of a Premium Website Builder plan will rise to $12.99 per month, so keep that in mind.Hostinger’s Key DifferencesThis is how Hostinger differs from Wix:Is Hostinger’s Dashboard Easier To Use Than Wix’s?I found Hostinger’s dashboard easier to use than Wix’s during testing. All the tools I needed, from appointments to ecommerce, were well organized in the dashboard navigation bar, and I could follow a clear website checklist to get started.With Wix, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by its interface as a beginner, especially with the large number of features baked into its dashboard.I could also access useful resources from Hostinger’s dashboard for additional support. Source: Website Builder ExpertIs It True That Hostinger Has Faster Site Speeds Than Wix?Hostinger does have faster website speeds than Wix, making it ideal for informational websites handling high volumes of content. When we tested how quickly up-and-running sites would load, Hostinger websites performed the best out of all the builders we examined on mobile and desktop devices – even beating Wix by a significant margin!To see how your website might perform when live, Hostinger lets you switch between desktop and mobile previews during the editing process. Source: Website Builder Expert 3. Shopify: For Scaling Your Online Store Overall rating: 4.2/5 (excellent)Shopify pricing: from $29 per month (billed annually) – get your first three months for $1 per monthShopify reviewShopify is the best Wix alternative for online stores thanks to its exceptional sales and product management tools. Wix’s ecommerce offering, though high-quality, can’t compete with Shopify’s specialist features tailored to merchants who want to set up and scale their business.Shopify also has AI tools for sellers with limited time on their hands, such as its AI theme builder and “Sidekick” ecommerce assistant.✔️ What Shopify Does WellShopify’s sales tools, from built-in shipping features to automatic invoice generation, support businesses at each stage of their selling journey.Seamless integration with other sales channels, such as online marketplaces and social media.Biggest app market where you’ll find 8,000+ apps to choose from.✖️ Where Shopify Could ImproveOnly 24 out of 1000+ templates are free to use. Premium templates range between $100 to $500 for a one-off payment.Restrictive section-based editor. In hands-on testing, its customization tools didn’t give me much choice when arranging my homepage design.Doesn’t come with a built-in scheduling feature like Wix or Squarespace. You’ll need a third-party app to set up appointments instead.How Much Does Shopify Cost?$29 and $299 per month (billed annually)Three-day free trialNo free planGet your first three months for $1 per monthShopify costs between $29 and $299 per month, which isn’t the best value for money. There’s a steep price increase between the cheapest and the most expensive plans, while its free trial only lasts three days. But if you’re looking for a platform to sell from, each of Shopify’s plans come with unparalleled sales features, such as significant shipping discounts.💰 Learn more about its plans and pricing here: Shopify’s pricing 🚨 You'll need to purchase a custom domain for Shopify On website builders like Wix, you’ll often receive a free custom domain for your first year as an introductory offer – but this isn’t the case with Shopify. Though you can buy a domain through Shopify, the pricing can set you back $10-$20 or more per year.Shopify’s Key DifferencesThese are the key differences between Shopify and Wix to take into account:Does Shopify Really Have the Best Sales Features?Shopify does have the best sales features on the market, a statement that’s reflected in our in-house testing. When I tried out different website builders, including Wix, the scope and quality of Shopify’s sales features impressed me the most.I could:Generate customizable invoicesPrint discounted shipping labelsCustomize the checkout page to reflect brandingView inventory reportsSell via different channels like Google Shopping, online marketplaces, and social mediaSet up over 100 payment optionsI could calculate discounted shipping labels directly from my dashboard to find the best deals and save money. Source: Website Builder Expert 🚨 One thing I noticed during testing… Though Shopify has fantastic sales features, I needed some time to get used to its dashboard and find where these tools are located. The dashboard itself is quite gray, so it’s easy to get lost on the screen. Because of this, I suggest writing down the key tools your business needs first, and then spending some time getting used to the platform and working out where everything is – you can use Shopify’s AI chatbot if you get stuck, too! Holly Choules Writer How Does Shopify and Wix’s Product Tools Compare?Though I found it easy to add products through Wix, Shopify is better equipped for much larger inventories and scaling up your store. In testing, I could use my own CSV file to add items in bulk without having to spend ages adjusting the CSV for a seamless upload. Once I’d added my CSV, it took Shopify just under 20 seconds to add these products to my website. Source: Website Builder ExpertAlso, thanks to the Shopify Editions Winter ‘26 update, managing a larger inventory is easier than ever. You can:Manage inventory transfersRun flash sales from multiple locationsView your inventory adjustment history past 180 days 4. GoDaddy: For Quick and Easy Website Setup Overall rating: 4.1/5 (good)GoDaddy pricing: From $9.99/monthGoDaddy reviewIf you feel overwhelmed by bigger website builders like Wix, GoDaddy is the most suitable alternative. With its straightforward setup and supportive onboarding process, GoDaddy is ideal for complete beginners who need to build a professional website from scratch.✔️ What GoDaddy Does WellSecond cheapest website builder on this list, with a reasonable starting price of $9.99 per month (billed annually).Impressive marketing suite that comes with a social media calendar, helping you plan and create seasonal posts.Speedy website setup due to its AI-powered interface.✖️ Where GoDaddy Could ImproveDesigns aren’t as advanced as Wix’s. When I used GoDaddy’s AI-powered builder, the designs felt generic and weren’t tailored to my website’s niche either.Doesn’t provide the most advanced customization options.GoDaddy’s SEO checklist needs improvement. I found that the guidance it offered wasn’t clear enough and may confuse marketing newbies.How Much Does GoDaddy Cost?$9.99-$20.99 per month (billed annually)Free planGoDaddy’s pricing is affordable, with its three plans costing $9.99 to $20.99 per month (billed annually). You can get started with GoDaddy’s free plan, but it comes with very basic features, like website security, and displays GoDaddy ads on your site. I recommend upgrading to one of its three premium plans to remove ads.💰 Learn more about its plans and pricing here: GoDaddy’s PricingGoDaddy’s Key DifferencesI’ve explained a few of GoDaddy and Wix’s key differences below.Does GoDaddy Really Have a Distinct Marketing Focus?Yes! Unlike Wix, which is more of an all-rounder, GoDaddy has a distinct marketing focus. Some of the best tools from its GoDaddy Airo suite are marketing related, including:A social media calendar with important holiday dates and optimized posting timesEmail marketing campaign generationSocial media ad creationI could create a variety of marketing material for social media, be it short-form videos or fun graphics, via pre-made templates. Source: Website Builder ExpertDoes GoDaddy Have Better Onboarding than Wix?GoDaddy’s onboarding is better if you’re a complete beginner and don’t mind having your hand held through the process. From the editor, I was taken through an onboarding experience that showed me how to use each tool, helping me get started quickly. In contrast, it can take a while to familiarize yourself with Wix and find the tools you need.As soon as I could access the editor, these pop-ups gave me tips on how to use it. Source: Website Builder Expert What Should I Look for in a Wix Alternative? Need help choosing the right Wix alternative for you? Ask yourself:👎 What you don’t like about Wix: Is it lacking a key feature you need? Or are its pricing plans no longer aligned with your budget? It’s time to look at other options.👍 What you like about Wix: Your new builder should have the same Wix benefits you enjoy the most. (e.g. Don’t move to Hostinger if you love Wix’s creative freedom or countless features).🔁 If it’s difficult to switch: Make sure that the process is doable. You don’t want to lose important website content along the way, so double-check each builder’s migration options.💡 The features you need to keep: Will your new builder have all the features your business needs to thrive? (e.g. An ambitious online store owner should switch to a platform that supports scaling ecommerce, like Shopify). How Do I Switch From Wix to Another Website Builder? Unfortunately, Wix is a closed system, so you can’t switch to another builder with a “one-click” export button – you’ll need to manually recreate your website instead. This involves recording your site’s layout for reference, backing up all content, and setting up 301 redirects to point your old URLs to your new ones.Online store owners can export their products via CSV file, though I still recommend saving your product photos just in case. Lastly, any Wix-bought domains can be transferred to your new provider. Are SEO Rankings Affected When Switching to/From Wix? Website migration can impact your SEO rankings, but only if it’s done incorrectly. To mitigate any potential damage, ensure that your URL structure on your new website is the same as your old website. For best practice, you should use 301 redirects to point your old URLs to your new, corresponding pages.Additionally, there may be temporary ranking fluctuations during the migration, since search engines will need time to crawl and index your new website. Our video below will also help you choose: Play How We Tested These Wix Alternatives We put each platform through our rigorous website builder research, spanning over 300 hours of testing and analysis, to ensure that you receive the most accurate information possible.During testing, we kept an eye on key criteria that reflected what users were looking for, and weighted them based on importance:Website functionality: 30%Design features: 25%Pricing: 15%User experience: 15%Help and support: 10%Reputation: 5%For instance, because “website functionality” had the highest weighting, I paid extra attention to key website features that small businesses will most benefit from, which includes scheduling, marketing, and sales tools. I also drew conclusions from my own experience of testing each website builder, sharing my first-hand experience throughout this article. What Is the Best Wix Alternative? Based on our research, Squarespace is the best Wix alternative overall. The platform rivals Wix with its unparalleled templates and easy-to-use editor, while its booking tool makes it the ideal choice for service-based businesses.However, the other alternatives listed do have their benefits. Let’s recap:Hostinger’s affordable introductory prices, costing $1.99 to $2.99 per month (48-month term), are excellent value for money if you’re on a strict budget.Shopify is most suitable for online stores. This is your best option for scaling up your business or managing your inventory more effectively,GoDaddy’s accessible customer support and straightforward editor make it the most beginner-friendly platform. It’s ideal if you’re setting up a website for the first time. Wix Alternatives: FAQs Is there a cheaper alternative to Wix that doesn’t sacrifice performance? There are plenty of cheaper alternatives to Wix that still run smoothly and won’t sacrifice your site’s performance. For example, Hostinger’s plans range from $1.99 to $2.99 (for a 48-month term), with dependable hosting and faster loading speeds than Wix. Hostinger has 13 servers around the world, whereas Wix has three data centers across North America and Europe. Which Wix alternative website builders have sales and marketing tools? Shopify has the best sales and marketing features to support scaling businesses, with over 100 payment options, SEO features such as translated stores, and advanced customization with a plethora of apps and integrations.For a cheaper alternative, GoDaddy has some of the strongest social media marketing tools, such as an AI-powered social post generator and content calendar. However, its sales features aren’t as advanced as Shopify, and it has no app store for customization. What are the best Wix alternatives for ease of use and business functionality? Squarespace has an intuitive interface and an easy to use drag-and-drop editor which make it a great first platform for beginners to use. Plus, Squarespace has a strong bookings tool, Acuity Scheduling, which makes it easy to book and manage customer appointments. Which alternatives have a feature similar to Wix Payments? Shopify’s native payment gateway, Shopify Payments, works similarly to Wix Payments, with both providing a streamlined payment solution that waives transaction fees. Both platforms offer the same processing fee of 2.9%+$0.30 per transaction, although Shopify Payments’ processing fees decrease as you upgrade your plan. Written by: Holly Choules Writer Holly Choules is a Writer at Website Builder Expert with a background in researching and crafting engaging content for digital platforms. In previous roles, she has demonstrated her wordsmith skills by writing for public facing brands in a range of industries. After gaining hands-on experience using leading website builders, like Wix and WordPress, she is now keen to share her findings through informative, easy-to-follow articles that help small business owners get online and grow their presence. Since joining the team in 2024 and transitioning into the tech sphere, Holly is passionate about applying her three years of content writing experience and upholding Website Builder Expert’s position as an authoritative source on website builders, ecommerce, and digital marketing. Researched by: Natasha Willett Lead Researcher I love to understand human behavior and the cognitive biases that drive us to do what we do. For over nine years I have worked as a mixed method researcher – research using a mix of numerical data and personal experiences – across a range of sectors, from insurance and policy development to finally arriving at Website Builder Expert five years ago. Fascinated by consumer decision-making, I meticulously built our leading ranking methodology to explore where providers like Wix sit within a competitive industry and what value they truly bring to our audience.As a member of the Market Research Society, I’m an advocate for high ethical, commercial, and methodological best practices. All of this combines to give you the most ethical recommendations based on real data. 1 comment Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment*First name:*Email address:* Δ Load more